Enroll your child in primary (elementary) school

Verified 23 May 2023 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Your child is going to go to primary school and you wonder how to enroll him in his future school? Your child may attend public or private schools. Educational obligation, registration procedures: here is the information to know on the subject.

Public school

From the age of 6 years, your child must be enrolled in elementary school, unlessfamily education.

This obligation shall apply from the beginning of the school year calendar year where the child reaches the age of 6 years.

However, your child can be admitted to elementary school before the age of 6, under certain conditions (cleanliness acquired, siblings in the same school).

No child shall be kept in kindergarten after the age of six, unless a special education committee decides otherwise.

The steps vary depending on whether you want to enroll your child in the commune of his nursery school or not.

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Registration in the same municipality

Enrollment in the same school or sector

If your child's school includes kindergarten and primary (elementary), he or she will be enrolled directly in CP at the end of the major section.

If the school consists only of a kindergarten, your child will automatically be enrolled in the primary (elementary) school in your area.

Contact your city hall to find out about your local school.

Who shall I contact
Registration in another sector

If you want to change your child from kindergarten to a different school than the one in your area, you must get a waiver.

The request is made through your city hall. This derogation is not automatic.

Who shall I contact

If you get this waiver, you will have to permanently enroll your child in the chosen school. Also notify the principal of the school where the child should have attended.

Registration in another municipality

After a move

If your child's registration follows a move, you must follow a specific registration procedure.

Other

If your child was enrolled in kindergarten in a municipality other than your own and you wish to keep the child there in elementary school, you must ask your city council for an exemption. You will also have to inquire at the town hall of the host municipality.

Who shall I contact

If, on the contrary, you want your child to return to the elementary school in your municipality, registration is done first at the town hall and then at the school.

Registration in Town Hall

The child must be registered no later than the month of June preceding the start of school.

Registration usually starts in March, but some municipalities start registration on the 1ster quarter of the year prior to the start of the school year.

Ask your local council early.

Who shall I contact

You will need to provide the following documents:

  • Document proving your identity and that of your child (family booklet, identity card, passport, copy of birth certificate or attestation on honor)
  • Recent proof of residence. You can provide an attestation on honor.

Other documents may also be requested for school canteens or extracurricular activities.

Who shall I contact

Once the registration is completed, the city hall will issue you a registration certificate indicating the school where the child is assigned.

Final enrollment in school

To permanently enroll your child, you must report to the school indicated on the registration certificate as soon as you obtain it.

The school management carries out the registration, on presentation of the following 2 documents:

  • Certificate of registration issued by the City Hall
  • Document certifying that the child has had the compulsory vaccinations for his/her age or justifies a contraindication

FYI  

a child enrolled in elementary school in a host community has the right to complete all his or her elementary education there.

Your child's registration must be accepted even if you live abroad.

Your child must be registered in one of the following municipalities:

  • Municipality where you have a residence in France
  • Municipality of the home of the person who has custody of it
  • Municipality in which an establishment is situated, more particularly for French children living abroad.

No, enrollment in public elementary school is free.

If you do not enroll your 6-year-old in an elementary school, you risk a fine of €1,500.

You are not subject to this penalty if your child receives a family education.

Private school

From the age of 6 years, your child must be enrolled in elementary school, unlessfamily education.

This obligation shall apply from the beginning of the school year calendar year where the child reaches the age of 6 years.

However, your child can be admitted to elementary school before the age of 6, under certain conditions (cleanliness acquired, siblings in the same school).

No child shall be kept in kindergarten after the age of six, unless a special education committee decides otherwise.

The child's enrollment in private elementary school is done directly with the chosen school.

The dates and method of enrollment may vary from one private educational institution to another. Inquire directly with the school concerned.

Yeah. Yeah. The cost of tuition at private elementary schools varies from one institution to another.

If you do not enroll your 6-year-old in an elementary school, you risk a fine of €1,500.

You are not subject to this penalty if your child receives a family education.